Mad schemes, crack pot dreams and I do update the blog now and then

Okay the blog has been a little bit dormant as of late, but all volcanoes erupt eventually (I'm looking at you Vesuvius). I figured it would be a good time to get everybody up to speed on what I've been up to and what I plan to be up to.

Frankly I've not been up to much. I'm a bit mind locked and going though a lot of personal change/growth. I do manage to make my shows... most of the time. But I've been a little bit depressed and not feeling all that ambitious. My personal life has been a train-wreck, but it's improving slowly but surely.

I do have a new collection in the works. But work is crawling along. It it very hard to work in the shadow of my last collection. In my humble and correct opinion “Shadow and Light” is my best work to date, yet I hope to surpass it.

Because people seem to be interested in what songs will be included on the next collection, let me give you the line up.

Lament of Ashes
Am I dreaming
Hell hounds on my trail
Starting over
Dance of the Edge of a Sword
Da Troof
The Path
Snake Charm Dance

In other news. I'm also planning a “Retrospective” release for 2010. This will include songs from, “Get Zorched”,”Songs in the Key of Green”, “The Sound of Red”, “Shades of Blue” and “Shadow and Light”. This will give new comers to the Zorch Experience a chance to get up to speed. If you are wondering why no songs from “Black and White” and “White and Black” are being included, well... let me give you the skinny on that.

I plan on yet another release, in which I re-record the songs from “Black and White” and “White and Black” that have evolved in to repertory standards. These will be just voice and guitar. But I feel both my sound and performances of these song has improved to the point a newer version is warranted. Once the new recording is available “Black and White” and “White and Black” will be deleted from the Zorch Catalog and no longer available for purchase

I also need to start playing some real life shows, and while I'm looking into local venues open to my kind of performances, odds are I'll end up on the road from time to time and perhaps I could end up in a city near you.

1,000 show and counting

In all honesty this entry is a bit late. Last night was show number 1,004. However, a single show is not as important as what it represents.

The New Epoch of Zorch.

Things are about to change drastically and this is not due simply to the number of shows I've played. My life... my real life is in a state of flux, and I'm finding my way to the path I will take. While I do intend to continue my musical adventures in Second Life, I am leaning I was correct in my estimation that one could not earn a living playing on Second Life.

Now for the record, I do mange to feed myself and keep a roof over my head, but who want to live the rest of their lives that way.

I'm looking into way of doing some limited touring, and playing house concerts or listening room. While on the road, I intend to maintain my online presence in Second Life and play shows online when I'm not playing them in real life.

Sort of a Hybrid tour.

The reason the touring is going to be limited is because I do plan to be home for each and every weekend I can spend with my Daughter. She is the priority in my life.

So with any luck, I may be coming to a town near you. Hope you can come out and enjoy a show in person. This is not an immediate development, and I won't be hitting to road tomorrow morning, but the wheels are already turning.

I will be continuing playing shows in Second Life, I'll be releasing my next collection in November, but I am looking toward the future and moving with purpose. I thought I would take a moment to share my plans with you, and I thank you for all the support thought out the first Epoch of Zorch.

And then the story gets WEIRD

I put a lot of hard work into my name.

As I write this entry, I've Logged 983 shows in Second Life, released seven mp3 collections (not including live, compilation, and story teller collections), and manage to write a somewhat amusing blog about my musical adventures in Second life.

I work hard to bring value to my name, and because of that investment I deserve to reap the benefits of my name. I'm the one that made it worth something.

The People at “Stream Scene” (cue laugh track), seem to think they can use anybodies name however they see fit to make a few Lindens. This is fundamentally wrong, Ethically reprehensible, and actually illegal.

Now let me say this. If they were just having a popularity contest it would be lame. But when you charge people to both nominate and vote for people, it's a scam.

THE STREAM SCENE AWARDS ARE A SCAM.

This is all about squeezing a few Lindens out of the small but excitable music community, and since this is all about COMMUNITY (Yippy wholesome family values) they seem to feel they have Cart Blanche to do whatever they see fit.

I sent Twisted Ruggles a Note card asking to be removed. She informed me THEY didn't nominate me the COMMUNITY did. Then she told me what a hateful personality I had and yadda yadda blah blah. Suffice it to say, she said they would remove my name from the list.

Expected and yeah... that's good.

Then it gets WEIRD.

Then... I get a note from the “BIG WIG” at Lame ass inter-web broadcasting and he informs me, There is no way to know what avatar nominated me, so there was no way to refund their money. This is how I found out nominations were paid for.

I wasn't nominated by THE COMMUNITY at all. Some faceless Avatar nominated me, and paid good money to do so.

I would like to thank Faceless Avatar for their considerations, but if you want to tell me you think I'm spiffy just give me a tip. I'll thank you for that as well.

Since my blog about the subjects, some heavy hitters have been nominated. Like Miles Davis.. and Satan. Crap... how did they find out my real life identity.

Of course Stream Scene accepted the nominations and the fees those nominations incurred.

Currently one of the nominees is sending out a note card to the other nominees, informing them about their nomination and inviting them to consider opting out. No... it's not me.

Now let me ask you this. If they don't know who nominated me... or anyone else. What kind of validation are they going to have during the voting?

Probably none whatsoever and all that really matters is the money coming in. I'm sure every vote will be paid for.

Hey, doesn't the term “Every vote paid for” give you a really bad feeling?

I predict there will be an award given. Not everyone will opt out simply because many of the people in second life require the validation an award... or even a nomination brings.

I'm very sure Manhood Wanker will activate his drones to lead him to GLORIOUS VICTORY. Because he's the kind of guy that needs “Stream Scene Music Award Winner” on his resume to make him feel like he has a dick.

I already have a dick, I have great music and to some people I'm one of their Favorite Second Life musicians. I never pretend to be mainstream or popular. But what I have, I've earned the hard way, but working for it.

And one of my proudest possessions is my name.

I am Zorch and I am the future of music in Second Life... and so humble.

It's a slap in the face just to be nominated

For those of you that are new to this Blog, allow me to inform you on my stance toward Music awards doled out in Second Life. They are all bullshit. They have nothing to do with determining the best and have everything to do with establishing an orthodoxy.

Of course all awards are about establishing orthodoxy. Even the Noble Prize says they get to determine whom made the most significant advances in a given field, and frankly those in the know are pretty suspect of endorsement of the Noble Prize committee.

Currently a Unknown (for the most part), web show, The Stream Scene is hosting awards, and by some fluke, I seem to be nominated for “Favorite Pop Artist”. How that happened I don't have a clue. I could classify my music by many labels but POP would not be one of them. I would not have known about this nomination if I was not informed by a nominee for “Favorite Folk Artist”,and I've never heard her sing one folk song.

I did check out the nominee page and found it to be full of errors.

Peregrine Singh is nominated for several categories. However Peregrine, in a fit of drama deleted his account moths ago. WTF?

Favorite Band features “Friendly Fire” Nominated twice in the same category. Very professional.

Favorite Song writer/composer lacks the inclusion of Second Life's best songwriter... Me, and includes Von Johin whom as far as I know, only plays covers.

Favorite Reggae Artist includes Russell Eponym, and I can't imagine why. I've seen Russell's show a bunch of times and I've never heard any Reggae. Even if he did one reggae song while I was not looking, would that make him a reggae artist?

Manhood Wanker is nominated for everything he's remotely qualified for, and frankly I think he'll win. Not because he's good mind you, but anybody stupid enough to support Manhood Wanker is stupid enough to spend 30 L$ per vote to show their LOVE.

Yes... it cost money to vote.

So when they put my name on their list, they are using my cache to put linden in their pockets. That is exploitation, they do not have my permission to use my name.

The Stream Scene is an embarrassment to anybody interested in music. Their show consist of the worse kind of fluff from people that don't have a clue what journalism is, or what is entertaining to watch. The Stream Scene takes all that is banal about Second Life music and passes it though a bland filter. Yes I was featured on the show once, I agreed to do it before I realized what I was agreeing to, and the end results was, “Zork (yes they called me Zork the whole time) has a clear bright voice and dresses like a pirate”. I changed my look drastically after that show in hopes people would think they were actually talking about some guy named Zork.

I intend to get my name off the list if I can. If they refuse, I'll get my lawyers on it. And if you support me DO NOT vote for me. This is probably the biggests indignity visited upon me during my Non-career in Second Life music.

A call to ACTION... or another crack pot scheme

Action is required to solve a problem, nothing fixes itself.

Allow me to define the problem. Not enough of the resident in Second Life are interested in Live music. This is, in my very correct opinion the primary problem impeding the growth of the live music scene.

The ratio between performers and audience is wildly disproportionate. Just about anybody can be a performer in Second Life, just go to the average “Open Mic” even and marvel at how low the bar is set.

There are long standing performers that absolutely suck ass. Some ever even popular but not because they are good, it's because they have lots of friend and “Play the game” well. Now when I say Popular, I'm talking about 100 or 200 people popular.

This is a rather myopic form of popularity. If you play on a sim with a limit of 45 avatars, you can seem like freaking Elvis with 100 die hard supporters. But to create a boom economy that would support the more mercenary schemes some people seem to hatch would require a larger market, or more simply put, more residents interested in Live Music.

What action must be taken to build a lager population of music supporters ?

If it where possible for one person to make a difference I would already be taking steps to change things. But no single person has the resource to raise the profile of live music in Second Life. Allow me to suggest steps that can be taken to improve our visibility, and address them to the group that must take the steps.

Listeners

Believe it or not, listeners are the most influential and populous arm of the music community. The Listener to performer ratio is about 8 to 1, and the vast majority of Venue operators also fall into the Listener category. What can listeners do?

Invite a friend.

I mention this at every show I play. Notices, note card, bios, are all a bunch of bullshit compared to the power of an individual sending an IM saying, “You gotta check this act out”. I know I have a new group member that is very excited about my shows and invites her friends. I know about this because one of the friends she invited told me she had invited him. This actually works, and so much effort is spent on rituals like spam that do almost nothing. If you invite a friend, and they invite a friend... and so on.. and so on.. things grow.

Go public with your passion.

I've seen a few venues spamming, “if you love live music write about it on your Face book/ MySpace/Blog”. This is a freaking brilliant idea. I personally love underground media. Most of the more established outlets on music reportage in Second Life are frankly a waste of bandwidth. Lot of coverage is people that are POPULAR rather then good. Traci Nubalo has a Blog called “The Word” and it's one of the best written and passionate Blogs I can think of.

http://tracinubalo-theword.blogspot.com/

Tip and Vote

The majority of the mercenary hub-bub revolves around money and support. Any tip is better then no tip at all. I've personally never had a show that I walked away from without something in the tip jar (unless it was a charity show), the way some people carry on you might think they can't say that.

When I say, “Tipping the venue is supporting Live music in Second Life” I mean every syllable. Tier Fees are a real, and every L$ you give means a little less of a bite out of the venue operators pocket.

If you have Lindens, please tip and if you don't please click on the “Vote” box. Hey even if you do tip the venue it doesn't hurt to click the vote box. Show some support.

In my case, I pay my meager bills with meager Second Life earnings. Simply put, if you tip me well I eat better. I have one supporter that tips me 13 L$ every show, and I'm remarkably grateful for it. While I would not mind larger tip... it all adds up.

The Venue Operators

First off let me state my policy concerning fees. If someone ask me what my fee is, I tell them whatever they find reasonable I'm comfortable with. I don't turn away shows that are tips only.

That being said, when a show is “tips only”, for goodness sake, it's the venue operators responsibility to do everything possible to ensure the largest audience possible for the Performer that is taking a gamble on the generosity of the crowd.

The simplest and most effective way of drawing a crowd is to post the event in “Live Music Events” at the Second Life web site. This ends up in world and most people browse the events listing to find a show to attend. If you don't list the event, it's like it's not even happening to most people in Second Life.

The word “Professional” get bounced around a lot in Second Life. But before we get to the realm of “Professionalism” we need to come to grips with competency.

Operating a venue in theory is easy. Let the performer do his or her job, and make sure the people that want to be there can be there and enjoy the show. Of course in practice, it can get a little complicated. But keep at it and your rewards will be great... I think.

The Performers.

While the Listeners make up the biggest part of the music scene, performers bare an awesome responsibility for making the scene grow.

Don't suck.

Seems simple, but some guys just can't get their heads around this idea. I could point fingers and name names, but if you are a performer and are wondering if I'm talking about you... quit. Something inside you is already telling you that you suck. People lack confidence because they have nothing to be confident in.

I never for a moment doubt the worth of what I do. But I also constantly strive to move forward as an artist.

When a performer sucks and continues to perform, he takes a slot on “Live music events” and due to some fluke of fate, somebody ends up at a concert and decided the whole music scene in Second Life is a waste of time.

Speaking of quitting, if you quit... stay quit.

You were right, you don't belong here or anywhere else in music. I'm not talking about people that take a break. That is understandable. One of the all time GREATS in Second life music took a break, and came back breathing fire. That is a world away from the lewzer that quit because they get their panties in a wad, then come back.

Lots of people need to quit in order for the probability of some one ending up at a concert that might convince them Second Life music is worth their attention.

Build a following one listener at a time.

There are so many harebrained schemes for building a following you gotta wonder what the fuck people are thinking. The old fashion way is playing your ass off. When you get in front of a pair of fresh ears be ready to “make them a believer”.

Every show brang it.
If there are two people there, brang it.

I know you want a shortcut, but there isn't one. Impress the new listeners and challenge the veteran listeners.

Take risks

I know one hack that has been playing the same songs since I first saw him over a year ago. He's been grinding away on Second Life forever so he's got a lot of friends. But he bores the crap out of me. When you play the same shit over and over you are going to get bored, and people don't find boredom very interesting.

Be a ROCKSTAR

I'm a ROCKSTAR on Second Life. I act like one. Perception is reality. If you don't have much talent, be everybody's friend. But if you have something of worth, be a Second Life ROCKSTAR.

Please note I'm not saying be a DICK, but rather be a ROCKSTAR.

Put yourself in the shoes of somebody that is attending his or her first live music event in Second Life.

“Everybody's friend” is playing, and he's going “Stuck in the middle with... hey Sally how you doing..You.. thank you for the tip BigEnoch... Stuck in the middle of my second life with... Hey Marko how is your foot feeling... with YOOOOOUUU”.

Yes the people on the “Inside” feel accommodated but to the new potential listener, they are thinking “Everybody's friend” is a goofball.. if you are lucky.

The same potential listener at a ROCKSTAR'S show, hears a song done front to back played well, No personal greetings mid song and tips are acknowledged between songs. To put the audience first a ROCKSTAR puts the music first.

Talent, passion, drive, and a massive ego are the building blocks of a ROCKSTAR, and frankly people are more impressed with ROCKSTARS then with Everybody's friend.

I personally attempt to be accessible while being a ROCKSTAR, and that accessibility is a large part of the charm of Second Life.

And finally put the music first.

There is so much bullshit going on in Second Life. So much drama it almost seems like drama season. To keep you head screwed on tight, keep your focus on the music.

I came here to play music. I wish to see the music scene blossom. Personally I'm putting music first and I suggest any performer worth their salt do the same.

Action can address the problem... or we can do what we are doing now. Things that don't work.

A call to reason... or another nut-job manifesto

Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it.

I've been poking holes in the fantasies of the “whiny ass bitches” for a few days now. As fun as that may be, it's not very productive. It's easy... and fun to point and mock, but unless you provide an alternative to the madness, and give the crazies a target to point at and mock , it kind of rings hollow.

I feel I should mention at the outset, I'm not a socialist or an altruist, or some mad bohemian burning my precious manuscript to keep warm in the bitter winter. I do support myself via the money I earn in Second Life. I've committed to this and intend to do all I can to be successful.

Let's take a moment to speak of the madness of Manhood Wanker and his merry band of fucktards.

The basic drift of their scheme is to extort more money out of the existing population of music supporters. While this may seem like a huge oversimplification of their proposal... it's not. That is in in a nutshell.

The reason it seems to have so much support is simply because it's a plan that many wish would work. Performers, venue operators and management types all wish they could make enough money off this Second Life music stuff to live like Rock stars in their first life.

However the plan... hell it's not really a plan it's more like wishful thinking, has no basis in practical application.

Manhood Wanker seems to think if you call something “Quality” and or “Professional” and then charge money for it people will line up to give you, and anybody involved in your pixie dust fueled enterprise mega money.

While only in the Hyperbole/Bullshit stage, it has already managed to fragment the tiny Second Life music community. While the people in fantasy land, expecting a big pay off support it, the long standing supporters of live music, whom have willing supplied attention and money are feeling somewhat disenfranchised.

I understand that feeling. I have to wonder why Manhood Wanker and his merry band of fucktards can't?

Let me share two numbers with you. I've heard and estimate that there are about 2,500 active music supporters in Second Life. I've also been told there are about 300 “Acts”. I'm inclined to think both numbers are reasonable reflections of the situation. This basically breaks down to a Performer/Listener ration of 8.33 to 1.

When you talk about supply and demand, does less then nine consumers to every supplier sound like a booming economy?

Of course, most of the 300 performers are not “Quality” or “Professional”. So lets say 100 performers have either talent or a personality that can draw a crowd. This makes the Performer/Listener ratio 25 to 1. Not even enough to max out a sim.

While I admit all these figures are abstractions, they still represent a very concert truth. The population of music supporters is not big enough to underwrite a supply and demand economy.

It's madness.

Now lets talk about reason.

The most prudent course of action is to take steps to build the numbers of residents interested in Live music in Second Life.

Lets imagine for a moment, 10,000 music supporters in Second Life. Suddenly the Performer/Listener ratio is 100 to 1. Suddenly the Avatar Limit on Sims becomes a deciding economic force. Only 40 people can get it, you can insist of a cover charge. And the 60 listeners that could not get into one show can enjoy another.

So how do we make the listener population grow?

Filters and Brands.

The lack of Filters in Second Life have hamstrung the growth of the community at least as long as I have been here. Lots of questionable talent gets booked due more to Social connections they actual worth.

In real life, you audition for the bar owner down the street, he doesn't care who you know, or what indignities life has brought your way. All he cares about is, can you sell beer? If you suck you'll drive costumers out the door. He doesn't even really care if you are good, all he cares about is making money off your talent.

He has an agenda. Sell beer, make money.

We need to have an agenda. Present music, get people interested in Live music.

Our filter needs to direct us towards our agenda if we want to grow. However Filters have a auxiliary function. Establishing a brand.

Coke-a-cola, Metallica, Adult Swim, Playboy, MTV are all brands. Just the name means something. All have use filters to develop those meanings.

What does Coke taste like?

What kind of Music does Metallica play?

What are you going to see in the middle of Playboy Magazine?

Consistent filtering establish a brand.

A great example of a brand that has used Filtering to become successful in Second Life would be “The Originals”. Once a month, you get a full schedule of originals songs, presented life. It is so successful that some lewzer is trying to steal it. The real “The Originals” with Harrie the rock chick running the show is a SMASH hit and proof that Brands work when they mean something.

The Originals is chocked full of Brands. It was started by POL Arida (the man, the myth, the kilt wearing vodka swilling Icon of Second Life music) then taken over by Harrie THE rock chick, Skjellerup of pixel hill fame, with a live broadcast provided by Indie Spectrum Radio yet another Second Life Brand.

The show is consistently compelling and draws a HUGE crowd.

The filter is simple enough. 30 minuet set of all original material. People know what to expect and have no reason to request “Wonderwall”.

While I'm not addressing how we jump the gap to reach those new listeners, I do know the filters and brands need to be in place before we are even ready to approach that issue.

Keep in mind, brands and filters don't need to revolve around one kind of music or performance. You can have a “Quality/Professional” brand, a “Guitar-raoke” brand, and a “Not very talented but nice guys” brand.

Once people understand what the filters provide and know the brands that use those filters, it's a simple matter to reach the audience that seeks the performance each brand provides.

Allow me to sum up my argument with a little pseudo algebra.

Money+ because I want money= failure and damage to the community that already supports live music.

Growth + Filters+ Brands= a boom economy, more money for those that have what the market demands, and only enriches the community that already supports live music.

Don't mean a thing but a chicken wing

I open my mail box today and got a bunch of weirdness in the form of offline messages from Second Life. More cancellations of shows (seems to be a rash of cancellations, not just me...whole dates blacked out). Then a inventory offer for Live Venue Owners Meeting parts 1-3.

Awww crap.

This was one of those Copy and paste Chat text, while I did log on to find out what it was, I didn't read it. The reason I didn't read it was because I know how I feel after reading things like that. I find it hard not to view people as enemies trying to destroy the best way I've ever found to make money playing music.

The personality driving this conversation is a fellow named “Mankind Tracer”. Holy crap Zorch mentioned a name!!! Yeah, this is going to get personal and I'm going to take sides.

I've never heard the music of Mankind Tracer, and I've never wanted to. The first time I became acquainted with the name was during an anecdote a music super fan related to me. Seems she was attending one of Mankind's shows and some fellow gave him a tip and Mankind the amount of the donation insulting. So he publicly berated the errant tipster.

Now for the record, I have said “Thank you for the tip, now my mom can get that operation” before. But that is still thanking someone for their tip * smirk *.

The super fan that related the story decided after that display she didn't need to give any further attention to Mankind Tracer... and I saw that decision so reasonable I've avoided his shows as well.

The second time I heard about Tracer, was while viewing one of those Internet TV shows about the Second Life music scene. The cartoon lady informed me “Tracer plays his guitar with precision and his voice was making all the women melt. He's got a new CD coming out that will feature his songs and some of his more popular covers”.

The fact he was going to release a CD with covers on it says so very much about him. He doesn't have the confidence or material to fill a single CD? What a lewzer.

I have to wonder if Tracer paid the mechanical rights for the songs he covered to the people with talent that wrote the songs?

But to put things in perspective, Mankind Tracer is a worthy target of open hostility. He's become the bloated twisted personification of every whiny fucktard that has bitched about the amount of money they DON'T make in Second Life. But as bad as that is, he's managed to transform himself with a gesture into... The Anti-Zorch.

He is the flaccid disease ridden dimple dick to my glorious erect MEGA WANG. I am the creative genius to his parasitic looter. He is the Ellsworth Toohey to my Howard Roark. He is a arrogant bastard and I am THE Arrogant Bastard. I am the artistic visionary seeking to elevate my art and enrich people lives through song and he is the greedy fucktard seeking to shake a few more pennies out of the people with musical taste stunted enough to consider him listenable.

Now some people have a “Can't we all just get along” mentality and I'm sure they are upset now. But let me make it clear I don't hate Mankind Tracer, I just hate what he's chosen to stand for. And because I hate what he stands for, I hope he gets a rabid badger lodged in his anus.

But lets step back from the personalities for a moment and get some perspective on this issue.

People have been plotting ways to extort money (or maybe I should say more money because I've never started a stream without some money being earned) from people for live, or semi live performances since I came to Second Life. None of them work because it's a free system an as long as people choose to play for tips and an occasional fee, there are going to be options for listeners.

Those screaming the most about their value constantly threaten to go back to real life if people don't compensate them as they see fit. This is bullshit, plain and simple. Streaming music on Second Life is very profitable even if you play only for tips. I could not book my act in real life with out major concessions (read cover songs), I get paid to play the music I love every day and my overhead is almost non-existent.

The people making the most noise seem to feel they in a position to dictate terms. They aren't. The simple fact is even in Second Life, people have to find value in what you do in order to get paid for it. Talent doesn't call the shots, Listeners do.

In time this will all fade away. The rules are in place, and changing the rules is not playing fair.

Footnote: PLEASE don't send me Copy and Paste conversations. I've heard all the vapid arguments ad infinitum and see no valid points being made. It's all magical thinking.

Slaves vs. Freemen

A while back, an artist know as “Prince” became “The artist formerly known as Prince”. Some speculate the reason for him changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol was to protest the treatment his record company inflicted upon him.

During one press conference he appeared with the word “Slave” written on his cheek (the one on his face thank you very much). While he didn't comment on the reason for placing that word on his face, most got the meaning loud and clear.

But wait... isn't Prince and or The artist formerly known as Prince some kind of millionaire? Yes indeed he is. But he was upset because while he generated a huge amount of money for his company he only got a small percent of that money.

Price was only a millionaire because he generated billions of dollars for the industry he is involved with. Da Music Biz.

Simply stated, the music industry (the real music industry NOT what passes for a music industry in Second Life) is quite possibly the most exploitive industries devised by man. The average percentage for a piece worker in a sweat shop is higher then standard boiler plate recording contract most new artist sign.

Nine out of ten new artist fail to earn back the advance on their first recording. But even the failures, people that never see one dime from sales earn on average 80,000,000$ for their record company (these figures reflect Major recording industries artist not “Indie” record companies).

If you think I'm making this stuff up, I recommend the book “Confessions of a record producers”. It's a very detailed expose of where the money goes, and hardly any of it ends up in the artist pocket.

Now you may wonder why I bring this up in a blog about Second Life music.

Simple. What passes for a music scene in second life is nothing at all like the real music business. Just about every venue operates at a loss, and most musicians get to keep all they earn.

We performers in Second Life are freemen in a world of slaves. And while I can't speak for everybody, the donation economy works well for me. I also release my own recording and get to keep every penny I earn. I've covered all my operating overhead via my musical adventures in Second Life, and at this point support myself via my tips,fees and sales.

Now the people contending to create a new more profitable music industry in Second Life suggest they are somehow more skilled and professional then this humble song smith. In their eyes I'm a enthusiastic amateur. But why is the enthusiastic amateur thriving in his donation based economy? Because people find value in what I do. The people that choose to pay me a fee find value in what I do as well.

The performers in Second Life have dodged a bullet by not really being profitable enough to exploit.

FREEEEEEEEEEEEEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Folly of Co-op thinking

Hey, Cooperation is a beautiful thing. You scratch my back, I scratch yours. It's all good in the hood and don't forget the reach around. Of course something that can be beautiful can also be a grim and twisted effigy of itself.

Recent developments have touted a NEW SYSTEM, where a Co-Op of Performers, Venues and Management types will band together to FORCE people to pay money for musical events. While it didn't mention it specifically, I'm sure pixie dust in a major component of this plan.

Now wait, it gets weirder.

Seems this Co-op is going to Share the imagined wealth from their pixie dust fueled enterprise.

There are a few flaws (actually a plethora of major gaffs) in this gem of an idea.

Aren't the management types suppose to strong arm venues in to paying fee? What the hell do the management types do in this hippie commune of love? Why are they getting a cut? For fucking venue owners over in the past? Is it some kind of Legacy payment?

Aren't all the people involved Prima donna? Don't all ventures centered on self serving retards end in political back biting and grand theatrics?

Don't Co-ops provide the most benefit to the mediocre? Why would Joe MEGA STAR want to share his money with Pete Kind-of-okay? He won't. It's a cut in his paycheck and he's going to wonder off the moment he figure that out. How well will the Co-op do without exceptional talent? Well you can see mediocre everyday for free, so why would you want to pay for it? Perhaps... Pixie dust???

What can a venue offer the a concert attendee that is worth paying for? A bazillion Prim Lights? Free T-shirts? Quality fake sound system? MORE Marshal Stacks? Group messages every 30 seconds till show time? Wait.. you can get all that and more at free venues.

Isn't the primary building block of the current music scene social? And how are the Fan friends going to feel when their performer friends tell them, “You can't hang out with me any more unless you pay me”?

You might accuse me of taking the low road here by poking holes in this idea. But frankly it's a lot of work. Kind of like poking holes in Swiss cheese. Hard to find a place that isn't already a hole.

While I'm confident this can only end in tears for the people involved, I am concerned about how it may color people perceptions of good honest hard working performers like myself.

I'm not a money grubbing bastard. I am arrogant, but you are welcome to listen to my music and tip me as you see fit.. or can afford. When offered fees I accept them, but the majority of my shows are for tips and I don't find issue with that. My supporters are generous and I do make enough to live off from my musical adventures in Second Life.

I'm am not an aberration, as all the people I count as peers find no reason to try and compel payment from their supporters.

Cooperation is a beautiful thing. If people were pulling together to better develop the music scene in Second Life I would support that without hesitation. But to pull together for no other reason then to try to make a few bucks just seems sad and selfish.

These people don't give a shit about music. They only care about what their ego demands.

Repetition is the key to effective communication

I've said it before and I'm going to say it again, and again, and again until it catches on.

The key to growth in the Second Life music scene is significant penetration into the general population of residents.

The mechanism to facilitate this significant penetration is quality music.

You'll get more blood out of an elephant then a mouse, but so many dreamers seem to be willing to invest a lot of time Imagineering just how to best bleed a mouse.

The logic behind my supposition is so solid, I'm dumbstruck that people seem to NOT understand it.

Right now they are trying to develop a method to force people to pay for a service that the vast majority of the residents show no interest in when it's free. Does this encourage growth? No. It's a major impediment to growth.

Another analogy would be, imagine a guy tossing some seeds around on the ground. Some take root and produce fruit. Most die on the ground. But the guy is so happy with the three or four tomatoes he gets he shouts “I is a farmer”!

Of course, if he tilled the soil, use fertilizer and cultivated his crops, he would have enough to feed his family and a surplus to sell off for “Real money money”. He would be a real farmer.

I'm convinced the donation based economy could be viable. The reason it's so hit or miss now is simply because it lacks quality. Lack of quality turns the venture into the haven of an isolated community. That is what we have now... and that does not support growth.

The best example I could give you for a venue that works would be the Jester Inn. It's probably the most reputable music brand in all of Second Life. Why? Because Harrie only books artist she likes or in my case Loves (in a non-creepy way).

When Harrie took over “The Originals”, the project grew to a major event. Harrie is organized, intelligent and committed to great music. Harrie is, as a venue owner and event organizer what so many people pretend to be. A force for change and growth in Second Life music. Her success is not due to her desire to make a lot of money off music in Second Life. Her success is due to the fact she cares about good music and work so hard to get it in front of people.

Quality music is the mechanism for significant penetration into the general population of residents.

Quality music is the mechanism for significant penetration into the general population of residents.

Quality music is the mechanism for significant penetration into the general population of residents.

Next Blog... the folly of Co-op thinking in the Second life music scene.

The Bigger picture

On the 27th of August, a bold and stupid experiment was preformed. Somebody implemented a “Cover charge” system. Of course the boldness of this experiment is somewhat diminished by the fact the cover charge was only one linden.

A journalist friend of mine asked me what I think about this, and I'm pretty sure if you have ever read this blog you already know my feeling on this matter. It's a stupid idea. She did attend the show because the... profiteer/musician running it was going to talk about his bold new plan. When she came back I asked her for any salient details and she said, “He really didn't address the big picture”.

Of course he didn't address the bigger picture. He can see the bigger picture because his head is up his ass. I of course am more then willing to address the grand issues of this matter, but who listens to me? I'm just some eccentric nut job with a blog.... or am I?

Let put the first stone on the table here. Established fact one. Popular does not mean good.

Any Popular artist in Second life is only actually popular with the uber tiny demographic that gives a shit about the music scene in Second Life. The vast majority of residents have already written live music off as a whole. They went to an event and saw some Bozo singing a Karaoke version of butterfly kisses, or some Gee-tar wanker, or some dude who's band was going nowhere so he thought he would give Second life a shot (Hey I know why your band is going nowhere buddy) and said to themselves,”Why bother”.

Why indeed?

Most people don't give a rats ass about the personalities that are held near and dear by the mavens of the Second life music scene.

Second stone on the table, the really good artist don't need a mechanism to separate music lovers from their money.

Maximillion Kleen is SUPER POPULAR. He's a sweetheart of a guy and he's actually good at playing music. Max doesn't mind playing tips only shows. I'm sure he could hold out for fee paying shows but the fact is, Max's fan base is more the willing to tip him. I'm not anywhere near as popular was Max, but my fans do right by me too. I have some fans that are broke and I don't mind that a bit. Enjoy the music and tip me when you can.

Stone three, considering the small slice of the pie the music supporters make up, it's unwise to limit their ability to see you.

Consider also the “Metallica vs Napster” effect. If you appear to be a money grubbing bastard out to squeeze your fans for every penny you can get, you'll lose fans. Nobody in Second Life is as wicked cool as Metallica so I can only see dire consequences.

Now lets count the stones on the table..... three stones... now throw them on the floor because they mean nothing. Instead of stones lets talk about the Bigger Picture.

The real path to actually growth and financial viability is attracting more residents to the music scene. This is something every mad scheme to pry a few Lindens from the faithful over looks. Music is a part of almost every human beings life. Why is it so marginal in Second Life?

Because most people go to a music event and it sucks ass.

The worse thing you could do is put impediment between potential listeners and good quality music. A Fee or cover charge is exactly the kind of roadblock major growth doesn't need. People don't come when it's free what in the world makes you think they are going to check it out if they have to pay?

Every performer with a fan base big enough to think they warrant a cover charge should consider this. Where would you be without the support of the people that came to your shows and tipped you generously? You are basically saying to them “Thanks for the support, I would not be here without you, now PAY UP MOTHER FUCKERS!!!!!”

The real hub of interest for this topic is based around people that feel they deserve more money for what they do. It's not about music,and not about what is good for music in Second Life. It's all about some whiny prick that finds it's so hard to sit in front of their computer a play some music.

This whole thing is magical thinking. If you want something bad enough it's going to happen. Some people need to grow up.

Starting over and continuing

A while back my personal life was reduced to ash. I'll spare you the details as they are not relevant to the theme of this blog.

I have a new life in a new place and more time to devote to musical matter then I can ever recall before in my life. However I've been spending a lot of time in a mental haze. Adjusting to such a sudden and drastic change can disorient the best of us.

While I might not have my feet under me just yet, I recognize the need to move in that direction. It's time to employ a bit of discipline and work toward furthering my music goal. Perhaps even redefine them.

I plan to start woodsheding on the other instruments I play. Keyboard, Banjo, Dobro, and (Gasp)the electric guitar. While I don't intend to alter the nature of my show to include these instruments, it's good to keep yourself immersed in musical thinking.

I'm also considering a bold experiment in broadcasting a live video show. More information of that as I come up with a reasonable way to go about it.

I'm plotting some wild musical collaborations, but that is tip top secret until the details are hammered out.

The new music collection (remember fall is coming) is already percolating in the back of my mind. The title of the next MP3 collection will be “Ashes and Dreams”.

There has even been talk of an official “Zorch the band” release.

Lots of good ideas and perhaps even time to make some of them happen. All I need to do is settle down a focus. My first step toward getting more done is being more disciplined about updating the blog. So make a habit of checking back.

Signal to Noise

I'm not referring to a technical specification here,but rather expanding upon a concept in the last entry I made (Tale of Two Quitters).

Perhaps a better tag for this phenomena would be "The Talent to trash ratio".

I'm personally very invested in the Second Life Music scene. While I would never refer to myself as a member of the (Mythical) all inclusive music community, I am one of the performers available to book.

People often sit around and talk about the music scene exploding, and how to go about lighting the fuse. The sad fact of the matter is the majority of people refused to acknowledge the major impediment to significant growth.

The problem really is not a lack of talent as many would suggest. The problem is the glut of questionable talent that swell the ranks of the talent pool. Add to this a never ending cavalcade of clueless venue owners that will book anybody, and you have the musical equivalent of the Special Olympics.

Of course there are people that support the Special Olympics, but you never see updates about it on ESPN.

The only real area of growth is to make inroads toward the general population of residents in Second Life. Just about every human being on earth has an interest in some kind of music. But you'll find there is only a very tiny demographic that loves Crap music. People want something of value even if all they are investing is there time. When you start talking about "Real money money", the value must be greater.

There is incredible talent in Second Life. People that bring to much to every performance. However if you look in the "Live Music Events" section of search, you find a litany of musical turds mixed in with the diamonds.

The path to significant growth is more talent less trash, more signal less noise.

The Tale of Two Quitters

Once upon a time there were two quitters in the Second life music scene. I'm sure there are more then two, but this is the tale of just two.

Rather then bring personalities into this, let's just call one "Psychotic Genius Quitter" and the other "Psychotic Joe Average Quitter".

They both have so much in common. Both are Psychotic, both bail the moment their itty bitty feelings get hurt and both are such drama Queens they may actually be drama Empresses.

When they come out of retirement... and they always come back, the only difference is you realize you wished the "Psychotic Genius Quitter" could get his shit together because the music is actually good.

When Psychotic Joe Average Quitter make his comeback, and then quits again, outside of the few friends he's managed to embroil in his own personal drama, nobody cares. There is plenty of average to go around.

I wish both quitters, instead of staring at their guitar on it's stand and pondering if the resident of Second life deserve a second, third or fourteenth chance to bask in their musical gifts, would just hone their quitting skills to the point where when they go they stay gone.

While this might sound harsh, and it probably is, I only say it because it's best for the people that actually try and accomplish something interesting in the Second Life Music Scene.

These in and out and then back in again types only ad static to the signal. People that wasted time at either one of the quitters comeback performances would be better served attending the concert of somebody with the balls to keep at it.

So much going on

The old blog as been kind of quite this month. This is due in part to the fact fewer people are really pissing me off, but the major reason is because I'm so freaking busy. Yes I'm playing a lot of shows, but that is normal for me. The real center of activity is the upcoming release of my next collection of songs.

Shadow and Light

While all my "Collections" have been freaking awesome, this one is defiantly raising the bar. How much better can it be? Well I'm listening to the "Roughs" right now, and even with out "Mixing" and "Mastering" it's awe inspiring.

Before somebody accuses me of hyperbole, let me assure you there are two good reasons for the vast improvement.

My last collection was released on March 16th, my rez day, This is the largest gap between collections ever. In the interim, I've had the opportunity to play theses song live dozens of times. Seems every time I play them I'm doing pre-production in my head.

The secondary reason for the vast improvement in this project is the interaction with other musicians recording it. The re-interpretation of musical ideas can lead to fascinating results.

Great songs with great arrangements make for a great recording. The massive groove is palpable even in the most laid back song. Mark your calendar for August 1st, the release date for "Shadow and Light". It will change your opinion on what music can be in Second Life.

Here is the List for song to be included.

This is the place
Close you eyes and Dream
Accident of Fate
Pay no attention
So into you
Rubber Sky
Different
Knave of hearts
Cynical bastard
Marital Bliss

Of course "Different" has been on the list before and not made the final product. But I think it's ready this time. There are also a few songs I'm thinking about adding if time permits. But for now they are a secret.

This is the first collection planned to be released as a CD, in addition to an MP3 collection. While I have been critical of the business reasoning behind CDs, I'm doing this simply because I can and if I don't sell one, I can absorb the cost of my mistake and still maintain profitability.



The great steam powered air armada.


I have a crazy dream. A while back I built a Venue/Home that is suppose to be a steam powered airship. I call it the "HMS Arrogant Bastard". Shortly after building the big version, I created a smaller version you can actually fly. I've been Flying it around North Norway and having a great time, but I can't help but imagine the sky full of "Mini bastards" and I want to make my dream come true.

On August 1st I plan to stage a fly over of north Norway with as many "Mini bastards" in the air as I can sortie.

Mini bastards are not that hard to fly, and I have no idea how many people would be interested in such and event, but the coolness factor is so high I've gotta give it a shot. I would like to get a video of the fly over, and have "Ride of the Valkeries" playing in the background.

While August 1st will be a busy day, to prepare for it requires a lot of work in July. So if the blog is a bit quieter then normal, don't panic.

I'll have plenty to write about in August.

Some people need a new hobby

Got a comment submitted today, looked at the entry is was commenting about, could remember writing a entry with the subject title, but I could not remember what the entry was about for the life of me. So I looked for it.

Scroll down the front page... not there. Page back, page back, page back...... (hummm)... page back... ahh September of 2008, and there it is. That is like eleven months back.

Now for someone to have issue with something I said almost a year ago, one of two things had to happen. Either they read backwards every entry until they found something worth bitching about, or some intermediary did that.

I'm inclined to think it's an intermediary because this is not the first time someone has taken issue with a blog entry from antiquity. This means some bored individual has no better motive to read my blog then to report back to people I may have been critical of.

For the record I stand by my criticisms and feel anybody offended by them take a moment to think about my comment.

Lately I've not been naming names and pointing fingers. Just talking about the activity that bug the crap out of me and allowing people to jump to their own conclusions. Most the time those guilty of the offense never see their face in the mirror, so while nobody is "Older but wiser", nobody bothers to post a comment I have to reject.

For the record, the comments are moderated and I won't let anybody make and ass of themselves. That is what public forums are for. Feel free to have a dissenting opinion, but state it intelligently.

Oddly, the majority of crack pot comments come from "Music Management types" (AKA Fucktards). So cutting to the chase, all you guys (and gals, lets not forget ThroughTheseWalls Loony.... er Moody) are a waste of pixels and everybody's time.

Better (!?!?!)

Sometimes warm fuzzy platitudes get accepted as fact when they are not based in any form of reality. The United States of America is founded on such piffle. "All men are created equal".

Ummmm pardon me, but they are not.

All people are created different, and unless you deny the value of anything they are not equal. Some are stronger, some are smarter, and some are born severely handicapped. There is a massive spectrum of potentials locked up in every individual but please keep in mind this is a spectrum.

Michelangelo was an artist for the ages.

Leonardo Da Vinci was also and artist for the ages, an inventor, an anatomist, and the creator of the shroud of Turin.

Leo's pallet of accomplishments were a bit more diverse then Mike's. He had a broader spectrum of potential and seems to employ most of it.

They are not equal at all, but who is better? That depends entirely on the criteria you use to judge worth. Please keep in mind, it' artistic matter the criteria used is very subjective.

You can if you wish, quote me when I say I'm vastly better then most. I honestly believe that, but keep in mind I'm using my criteria not yours. Your criteria probably has a "Humility" slot my criteria lacks.

Why do I have the arrogance to claim superiority? Because on my scale of worth, I rate very well. There are others that do well held up to my criteria, so it's not as egocentric as some seem to think.

So what attributes to I assign value to?

Originality

Simply stated a cover artist is just a musical functionary. They can be replaced by a DJ on a whim. Cover artist appeal to people that don't really like music, they just want to hear something they know, something they are comfortable with.

Original music has value because it comes from one source, the creator of that music. It is the artistic vision of the creator and as such has a greater artistic cache.

Voice

Not the voice you sing with mind you, but the sound of the music. Some have a unique pallet of sounds. While most my readers are familiar with my favorites, Suffice it to say POL Arida, Senjata Witt, Blindboy Gumbo, Lanrete Moonite, Lexie Luan, and The Rails all have their own sound. Keep in mind I'm not talking about a singular sound, but referring to the pallet of sound each uses.

I have heard some very popular act play thier own songs... and for the most part, they sound like the songs they cover. Originality is a matter of content and style.

Depth of Catalog

Every month there is an "Originals" show. A bunch of act come out and play the songs they write. Good on them, I don't have a problem with that.

However doing a 30 minute set doesn't make you a mover and shaker in the world of Original music. It's a start, but just a start.

The real deal Original music commando has a very deep sack of songs to choose from and is always creating new material.

The intangibles

These are attributes hard to quantify, but present. Integrity, vision, drive, and perhaps, "Star Quality". All my favorites have that little extra something that instills value in what they are doing.

On a side note, I remember once seeing a video of a Second Life performer showing how he did what he dose on second life in "Real Life". He used a Looper, and was plugging in a geetar, then a bass, Looping, looping, and yes even more Looping. Plugging Unplugging, and then more looping. It was interesting to watch, until I realized what he was doing was far more interesting then the music he as making. The music actually sucked.

If how you do what you do is more interesting then the music you make, you are not a musician you are a potential "Gong Show" contestant.

Looking at my personal criteria you can probably understand why I'm so impressed with myself. It seems in a world fraught with mediocrity I am.... Better.

The need to vent

It's great to be Zorch. It takes a whole lot of hard work and dedication, but when you stand on the mountain top, the view is breathtaking.

Yesterday I played three Epic shows. I don't always pull that off, even though it might seem that way to the causal observer. I was in the zone. The new songs are working, my pacing was spot on and I was tapping into the deep emotional center of each song.

I was in my glory, the glory of Zorch.

So why do people have to fuck with that? Can't you just leave me alone and let me be great?

The first Epic show I have some person of questionable intelligence asking me NOT to play "Howard Roark and me". She spent the whole show whining "don't play Howard". It seems for some reason she HATE Howard Roark. How could anybody in their right mind HATE Howard? She must be some kind of crazy person. Howard is the fictional embodiment of personal integrity. A man with a vision he will not deny. He is to me an inspirational character, and as such, a feature in a song I find personally empowering.

Asking a person that would write a song like "Howard Roark and me" not to play "Howard Roark and me" is an exercise in futility.

Unless I was a hypocrite, and I try to avoid that whenever possible.

So I come to the end of the set, launch into "Howard Roark and me", and the whining fucktard poofs off in a huff. I feel I should point out, I play "Howard Roark and me" in every show. It's almost my personal anthem (Anthem is the title of another Ayn Rand book).

I end the show with "The passion of me" and "The pipes of redemption". It's classic, each song is impressively performed and the show is just fooking amazing. As I'm getting off stage and basking it the well deserved accolades, a fellow musician sends me an IM, to the effect, "I love your stuff and you sound great, but maybe you would do better if you were more friendly".

Not naming names here.. but he really harshed my mellow.

I just sat there for a moment pol-axed. Then mustered up the best response I could think of, "Yeah probably". But just between you and I... I didn't mean it.

You might have trouble understanding how stunned I was. How in the world could I have done better?

Great set.

Great songs.

Amazing performance.

Good crowd.

Really good tips (above average, and I mean above pre-frost average).

Good guys win... woot.

How could I do better then that?That is pretty much what I'm here to do.

I'm not very good at being friendly. I try to be polite and personable, but I don't really think I have "friendly" in me. It's almost like finding the one flaw in a masterpiece. Why does he feel the need to ruin my moment? Just leave me be and let me be the musical genius I am. Okay I'm not a warm fuzzy person, but there are so few musical geniuses you should cut me a little slack.

Show number two for the day went down without incident. Yes it was a great fooking set, but it was just part one of a back to back show. The second show is fraught with opportunities to moof up. However I managed to transcend that hurtle and play a near flawless set. Once again all the elements came in to play and people got the kind of show I love to play.

I'm basking in the glow of a show well played when another killjoy shows up. Ahhhh fuck.

This one went from petty annoyance to seriously pissing me off. I get an IM from this woman that had booked me into a venue. It's a new place, I've played two shows there and I'm not going to play any more. She starts "Can I have a moment of your time" and I'm ready to log off, get some food, and maybe a nap. But in an attempt to be a little more "Friendly" I say "Yeah sure". I'm already dreading what she has to say. God knows I'm not permitted to enjoy my little moments.

She says, "well there seems to be a problem with the review of your last show".

I say, "Review???"

She says, "Well some of the VIPs at the club have an objection".

Ohhh an objection. If you know me at all, you know I don't really care. But I'm trying to be more friendly here, so I say, "And what is the nature of the objection"?

She says, "I don't really have that information, you'll have to talk to the boss".

So now I'm officially pissed off. This woman booked me, had me booked into the next month, and she doesn't even know what the problem is. The dude that pulls her chain told her, "Get that Zorch fellow in my IM box... NOW".

Hey, if he's got an issue, he need to look me up in the people search. He doesn't need to send his flunky to tell me to speak to him. I play for tips , he don't pay me enough to treat me like an employee. Actually, he doesn't pay me at all... remember I work for tips?

Now I tell the woman, "you know what, I really don't care what the objection is. and I don't want to talk to your boss. You can't please everybody all the time and I don't even pretend to try. It would be simpler to just cancel the shows".

She says, "Okay the shows are canceled" and I say "Okay".

I don't want to talk to the boss, I know how that conversation always ends. "Do you know who I am"??? No, I never know who they are. They seem to think they are really, really important, but to me they are just guys that pay tier fees.

Now please don't get me wrong. I appreciated the fact they pay those fees and give me a place to work my trade. But I show my appreciation by playing the best show I can, for tips only, and drawing my supporters to his venue and encouraging them to tip the venue.

The two shows I played at that venue featured many familiar faces that would not be there if I was not playing. I know them well enough to know they are inclined to tip the venue if they have Lindens.

I made him money, and he sees fit to treat me like his bitch? Send his flunky to call me on the carpet? Some of his VIPs (hey, get real, the VIPs in these clubs are nothing important. Hell they don't even pay tier fees, they just join a group) have objections? I'm actually quite pissed off about this. Can you tell?

I made about 14,000 some odd Lindens today. I earned every penny, but I deserved more. I deserved my moment to just enjoy a job well done.

I play the best songs I can, and the people that enjoy them seem to enjoy them very much. Don't tell me what NOT to play.

I do the best shows I can every time. I never just "Phone it in". Don't ask me to be friendly, I'm not good at it, and that is not why I'm here.

I support the venues that support me as best I can. But if you offer me up for review by your VIPs don't be surprised if some of them have objections. What I do is not simple entertainment. It means a lot to me, and it means a lot to the people that love what I do.

My name is Zorch, I do what I do, and I do it very well. You'll never have to guess what I'm thinking, and I'll offer up my best in the sincere hope you enjoy it, and choose to give me a tip. Yes, I do accept fees when offered, but it is, in the end about the music. It is harder work then you might think, but it is a labor of love.

Now shut up and let me enjoy my moment.

Preach it Howard.



Don't you know who I am?

The over arching narrative???

The experts continue to babble on about how this whole Second Life Music Thang works, with certainty only matched by their cluelessness. Hypothesis abound, but lets move beyond the perfumed hyperbole and tell some stories.

A few weeks back I was playing a show at Guthrie's and a face from my past popped up. It was a face I never expected to see at any of my shows. Without naming names, suffice it to say the person that pronounced me too arrogant to be a vital part of the Second Life music scene showed up at my gig.

I was even more surprised when she tipped me.

After the show, she sent me a note card explaining she was sorry for calling me to arrogant to be a vital part of the Second Life music scene. She had been quite upset at the time and perhaps spoke too harshly. Then she went on to inform me she was leaving the music business and going back to college.

Good and more good. I'm a giant of grammar.

Once again, no names being mentioned, this woman was also suppose to be a Vice President in MNP Records, and was chipping away at her unemployment, and then savings waiting for her ship to come in. Big money in the Second Life music biz.

The fact she is getting out of the music business, and going to college says a lot about the situation at MNP (what the hell does that stand for anyway???). I bear her no ill will and hope she does well in her new endeavor.

For those of you new to this blog, you may be unfamiliar with the MNP records saga. A short recap, a nut job named ThroughTheseWalls Moody figured she could run a record company featuring Second Life musicians, if she convinced legitimate businesses it would be a profitable method of promoting their products, and through the power of corporate sponsorship she could run a record company that really doesn't sell many recordings.

I predicted it would not work months ago, and the projected start up time frame was mid June. It's mid June now. Anybody heard anything about the big MNP Records launch? I haven't. Maybe it's a big secret. Or maybe it didn't really work...just as I predicted.

I'm not psychic, I'm just paying attention.

While some might write off the magical thinking of people like Moody as harmless, it seems people put a lot of stock in these fantastic ramblings. When you say what people want to hear they are very inclined to believe you. Sometimes people take action, or fail to take action based on the promises of music business wealth. This can have detrimental effect in people's real lives.

But not all stories are sad stories. Some are stories of Heroes.

Norge and Nya are the Dynamic duo behind the North Norway Sim. Back when I first started out one of my very first regular bookings was at the Artic circle Dock. Norge basically said any time you want to play just let me know. It became quite a beehive of musical activity.

Norge had a dream, but he was not a magical thinker. He wanted to build a place where music flourished and had no grand scheme for making money off it. However, due to a personal set back he had to close down the Artic circle dock, and scale his Sim way back.

As small as the scaled back Sim was, he still managed to make room for quality music oriented venues to operate in.

When I was homeless, Nya asked Norge if he could give me a bit o land for my personal use, and he gave me a home. When Norge opened a mall, he gave me a shop. All at no cost to me. What a sweet guy.

Norge and Nya had a dream, and now it seems that dream is coming true.

I was standing on my front porch the other day. As I looked to the right, I saw the base camp for the Lost Continent Music venue. Across the water I can see my shop, and the Note Shack, another venue I play at. To my right was a new compound being built by POL Arida. Just beyond POL's place is the new Melodies/Harmony mall. A place I play several shows at per week. To the left of Melodies is the new "Hotspot Exstream" location, the place I rent my stream from.

Of course to the left of my little shack, just over the bridge is Nya's house. This is becoming a neighborhood, and quite a nice one thank you very much.

At this point, it seems the good guys are winning. I love that so very much.

It's possible, even likely there is no grand over arching narrative to the saga of Second Life's music scene. But there are stories. There are heroes and villains, success and failure, darkness and light.

The world, even a virtual world is defined by decisions and actions. What do you decide, what actions do you take?

All it takes is money

For the most part I love venue operators. Most of them are dedicated and organized. But I'm really coming to grips with the simple fact to do anything in second life, all you need is money.

I've seen a Buddhist retreat run by a guy that is not even a very nice person. His claim to spiritual enlightenment is simply his ability to pay his tier fees.

I've seen people start up music management operations with nothing more then investing in a group tag. Of course it grows from there in to a freakish bloated scam, but that is another blog.

To open a venue, once again pay your tier fees and take a stab at it. You don't have to know what you are doing because... well you don't.

Now please keep in mind, for the most part I deal with people that Love music, understand how it works in Second Life, and are all over the details like ugly on an ape, but the other day I had an interaction so bizarre that my mind was actually blown.

I'm playing a show at "The Unwinding hour" the other day, much as I have every Friday for over a year now. Some "Un-named" person contacts me about playing their venue after about the third song. This is not unusual at all, they ask me to get in touch with them after the show and I save the IM for later.

After the show I ask the "Un-named" person how I can help them, and they ask to book me, and then fill me in on all the details of their sim...that isn't actually finished yet. They tell me they are planning the lunch for July 4th, and seem oblivious to the fact this is a major holiday in the USA. One of the few that seem to revolve around outdoor activities. Hey I don't go outside for nothing baby, the big fiery ball is waiting for me to pop my head out the door to reduce me to a pile of ashes. Not going to happen sparky... not today.

Then they start blathering about how they are going to feature all kind of genres of music to serve all the peoples of Second Life. Then they ask me what genres I covered.

I informed them I don't do genres, I play songs I write. Then suddenly this woman started acting as if I was asking her for help and she was far too busy to help me at this time.

What the fuck?

"I really don't have time to help promote you" she moaned. Hey sweetheart, you asked to book me, and frankly you don't have to promote me, I've been doing this for a while now and have a few supporters. Probably... and I'm just guessing here, a few more then you have in your group considering the fact your sim isn't even done yet.

How did that conversation go from, "I want to talk to you about a booking" to, "I don't have time to help promote you".

I predict this venue won't be around long, I can't even figure out her motivation for attempting to run a venue.

I wonder if she even understand, venues are not the draw, the performers are. She seems to be willing to pay fees, and she mentioned she had hired a quite famous Second Life artist for the show, so I'm sure there will be lots of bodies at the big opening, at least for an hour.

When you have deep pockets you can operate for a long while in Second Life with no compantancy at all.

But unorganized people don't often have deep pockets.

A very good thing

I spend a lot of time talking about what is wrong. This is mostly because I’m somewhat of a cranky old man and that is what cranky old men do. However, in a world where people spend so much time praising crap, it’s only responsible to point out the emperor has no clothes.

It is also responsible to point out the good things, and a rare privilege to point out the very good things.

In the Second Life music scene, there is a simple rule of thumb for a “Good thing”, and that is simply it’s about music first.

A very good thing happens when it’s about music first, the people playing have something wonderful to offer and every detail is covered. The Audience, performers and venue all have a great time and for one bright and shining moment you think, “Wow”.

In my mind there is one consistent “Very good thing” you can count on it Second Life. That being… drum roll please.

The Originals.

I was on the bill at the first “The Originals” show, making me, as I like to point out, one of the original originals. And it’s grown every single show to be more significant than the show before. Second Life music Iconoclast POL Arida started it all and that in and of itself is a good beginning. But a while back he put Harrie (the ROCK chick) Skjellerup in charge and things really started to come together.

POL was the visionary, but Harrie is the architect. Frankly Harrie is one of the most amazing people I’ve met in Second Life. She is organized, creative, and passionate about music. Her venues at Pixel Hill are the venues I point to when suggesting a model for other venue operators to emulate. She supports the music she loves, and I’m so very glad she loves my music because she’s done more for me then any of the other self proclaimed movers and shakers.

I’ve been involved with a few of the MEGA events held in Second Life and most of them are poorly run, have line ups consisting of whoever answered the note card first. The originals started out as a simple dream and grew in stature to be one of the most impressive shows in Second Life.

I remember a time when I came in with my all original set list and people would tell me, “You should really do covers, nobody is going to book all originals”. But it seems “The Originals” proves that wisdom quite out of date. Hundreds of people show up to listen to original music and then come back next month to hear more.

At this point, Indie Spectrum Radio is making the music from “The Originals” available live to people that can’t log on to Second Life but can get on the interweb.

I can’t help but look at what is going on here and think, this means more then it seems. This is more than just an entertaining show. This is the place where things coalesce. The real future, if there is one for music in Second Life is original artist. The dude and chick singers will always have place to play and people to listen. But the artists are going to make the biggest impact. We are the ROCK STARS.

Of course I might be a little bit biased.

Things are really just starting to come together. Thanks POL for starting it all. Thanks Harrie for making it grow. Thanks all good listeners and artist for making it matter.

The Orgininals… a very good thing indeed.

Bad venues

I’m a big support of the people that make the music scene happen, the venue operators, however, not all venues are operated equally. Some venues are “Bad Venues”, this is why I never agree to a long term booking until I’ve played a venue once and given it a test drive. Keep in mind, anybody can open a venue, all it takes is money. But just because somebody has the money to open a venue does not imply they are smart, organized or even sane. Simply put some are, and some aren’t.

There is a simple three step litmus test for a good venue.

First they should list the event in “Live Music Events”. If they don’t list the show it affects the crowd and if the performer is playing for tips this can be very detrimental to their cash flow. This is the very least a venue can do to support a performer. Some send notices to a bunch of music groups, and some do not. But the bare minimum promotional effort should be a notice in Live Music Events.

The venue operator is responsible for getting the stream to their parcel and should have any information they need to do that before hand. Once the performer starts the stream it should be playing in world. Personally I make sure venue operators have my stream info as early as possible, and double check to make sure we are clear. However some manage to fuck it up even after I spend time holding their hand. This is why you hear artist saying, “Let me know if you hear me”?

The artist should have any tags they need to rez their stage props well before the show starts. How many times have you heard and artist lament they could not rez their tip jar? This is a fuck up by the venue operator.

Now very good venues cover all these things and do much more to support the artist. I love these guys, and support them as well as I can. But you would be amazed how many venues can screw up the three little things and basically equate to baseline competency.

No incase you think I’m pissed off about this because I’ve been recently burned, that is not the case. As a matter of fact I’m having a very good streak with new venues. But a friend of mine asked me to catch a show she was doing. It was at midnight my time, but I wanted to be supportive so I set my alarm clock and logged on a few minutes before her show.

I don’t belong to any of her groups, so I had to look in “Live Music Events” to find the show. It was not listed. So I had to ask for a lift from my friend that was probably getting ready to play a show.

Bad venue… you didn’t list the show in Live Music Events.

Then time comes to get on stage. No stream. Na-da. People are going, “I don’t hear anything” and the host is going “Could you send me that stream info again”? My friend told me she made sure they had the info and she’s played enough shows that I’m sure she did. After nine minutes there was a stream. While it might not seem like a bit deal, nine minutes are three songs that won’t get played that show.

Bad Venue… no stream on parcel.

Of course I was pretty pissed off. I had gotten up to see this show, and it was taking forever to start. I did tactfully comment, “Where is the fooking stream”? And then, “I guess any retard can open a venue here”.

Then when the stream was up, my friend was apologizing for not having a tip jar out and asking for a tag that would allow her to rez. This is about 12 minutes into the show.

Bad venue… any tags or information about rezzing stage props should be covered before the show starts.

With almost a quarter of the show wasted on things that any decent venue operator would have covered, she managed to get under way. She did a commendable show in spite of the lack luster performance of the people running the show.

Good show… bad venue

On to the drama now.

Seem the fucktard that owned the Sim took offence to my comments about “Where is the fooking stream” and “I guess any retard can open a venue here” and assaulted me with a series of questions marks. I responded with a series of exclamation points. Then things got really stupid.

Kind of the Blah, blah, blah/fuck off dialog I’m getting way too use to in Second Life. It always seems to end with the fucktard in question inquiring if I know who they are.

Funny thing about fame, it loses some of its cache if you have to inform people how famous you are.

I ended the conversation with the observation I didn’t know who he was, but I knew what he was.

He was quite the rest of the show, and I got to hear my friend play about ¾ of a set.

After the show, I was killed.

I didn’t know you could get killed in Second Life, but it seems you can be. The overall effect is you get sent home, no loss of XP and you don’t have to find your body to get your stuff back. I was changing strings at the time and didn’t actually see myself get dispatched. Just heard a bit “QUWANG” and saw the TP screen and popped up home with a little green notice that I had been killed. The sad fact of the matter is it probably made him feel like he was powerful. Almost like he was… a man.

But you’ll notice I don’t even bother to print his name. His name doesn’t matter a whit. He’s just another ubiquitous jack ass that manages to pay tier fees and can’t run the venue he pays for with baseline competency.

Support the good venues, ignore the bad ones. Especially musicians. We should support the people that do so much to support us back.